An Odissi dancer and choreographer, Sharmila has over thirty years of experience in dancing. She has received grants from the Indian government and the Ministry of Culture to promote Indian cultural art forms, especially classical dance forms.

Sharmila Mukerjee is a veteran Odissi dancer and choreographer. She is the Artistic Director at her own dance school, Sanjali Centre for Odissi Dance in Bengaluru. She has been dancing for more than 30 years now.

Sharmila was born in Kolkata and completed her schooling from Loreto House, a convent school in the metropolis. Due to her exposure to dance in Kolkata, Sharmila developed a strong interest in the art form at an early age. She used to study literature on dancing as well as biographies of dancers. The cosmetics, show lights, rehearsals, and practise all captivated her.

Speaking of her life's journey, Sharmila states that she began taking part in dance at her school when she was twelve years old. Her mother signed her up for Odissi dancing lessons after seeing how much her teachers liked her dance and the grace with which she danced. After completing her education, Sharmila made the decision to focus solely on her dance and make it her profession.

Speaking candidly about her life's challenges, Sharmila reveals that she had to close down her dance school in Bangalore when her husband was transferred to Delhi. When she returned a year later, there were no students. She had to shift to a temporary studio and reopen her dance studio. The situation at that time made her stronger than before.

Sharmila lists her teaching experience as one of her successes, noting that a number of her students went on to become dance instructors. In addition, she  has received grants from the Indian government and the Ministry of Culture to conduct events that promote Indian dance forms and  this makes her feel proud.

Sharmila shares her interests and hobbies, stating that she enjoys reading, writing, painting, swimming, yoga, singing, listening to music, and meditating among her many other pastimes. She says that she is enjoying her life and stays away from negativity.

Sharmila admits that she makes mistakes because she tends to trust people too quickly, which is detrimental to her  .

When asked about role models in her life, Sharmila says that she considers her mother as her strength and inspiration. She also considers her Guru  Kelucharan Mohapatra as her role model. She aims to imbibe the creativity and energy of her guruji in her dance presentations.

Sharmila's life mantra is to be a good human being first and then be an artist.

To the youngsters, Sharmila advises them to be patient and to always try to keep a balance in life. She further wants to convey to them that nothing comes quick and easy. Everyone has their own struggles. Therefore, the youth should focus on enjoying the learning process. Also, they should be responsible as citizens and artists.

Advising the dance aspirants, Sharmila asks them to take dance seriously. They should always be patient and keep practising dance to hone their skills. Also, they should take it easy and enjoy the process of learning dance.

Sharmila concludes by saying that hurrying leads to tense situations, so take your time and remain steady to enjoy the process. Additionally, view dancing as a spiritual journey and approach your practice holistically.